160 
LOUISIANA HERON. 
are frequently seen in the rice-fields, feeding along the ditches by which the 
water is led to those places. At this season they are uncommonly gentle 
and easily approached. 
The Louisiana Heron acquires the full beauty of its plumage the second 
year after its birth, although it continues for some time to increase in size. 
The train and crest lengthen for several years until they become as repre- 
sented in the plate. To procure specimens in such complete plumage, how- 
ever, requires some care, for this state does not last many days after pairing 
has taken place, and by the time the young are hatched much of this fine 
plumage has dropped. When autumn has come, only a few of the long 
barbs remain, and in winter no appearance of them can be seen. 
The flesh of the young birds affords tolerable eating. The food of this 
species consists of small fry, water insects, worms, slugs, and snails, as well 
as leeches, tadpoles, and aquatic lizards. 
Louisiana Heron, Ardea Ludoviciana, Wils. Amer. Orn., vol. viii. p. 13. 
Ardea Ludoviciana, Bonap. Syn., p. 305. 
Louisiana Heron, Nutt. Man., vol. ii. p. 51. 
Louisiana Heron, Ardea Ludoviciana , And. Orn. Biog., vol.iii. p. 136 ; vol.v. p. 605. 
Male, 27, 37. 
Resident in the Floridas and Texas, where it is abundant. Migrates east- 
ward to New Jersey, where it is rare ; up the Mississippi to Natchez. 
Never seen far inland. 
Adult Male. 
Bill much longer than the head, straight, compressed, tapering to a point, 
the mandibles nearly equal. Upper mandible with the dorsal line nearly 
straight, the ridge broad and slightly convex at the base, narrowed towards 
the end, a groove from the base to two-thirds of the length, beneath which 
the sides are convex, the edges thin and sharp, with a notch on each side 
close to the sharp tip. Nostrils basal, linear, longitudinal, with a membrane 
above and behind. Lower mandible with the angle extremely narrow and 
elongated, the dorsal line beyond it ascending and almost straight, the edges 
sharp and slightly inflected, the tip acuminate. 
Head rather small, oblong, compressed. Neck very long and slender. 
Body slender and compressed wings rather large. Feet very long ; tibia 
elongated, its lower half bare, very slender, covered all round with angular 
scales, of which the posterior are scutelliform ; tarsus elongated, slender, 
compressed, covered anteriorly with numerous scutella, laterally and behind 
with angular scales. Toes of moderate length, rather slender, scutellate 
above, reticularly granulate beneath ; third toe much longer than second, 
which is very little longer than fourth, the hind toe much shorter but strong ; 
